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com lessons-exercises vocabulary business english idioms proverbs wordgames resources fun news home ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb; the combination creates a meaning different from the original verb.

idiom-a-day verb crossword

phrasal

A B C D Phrasal Verb A abide by account for add up advise against

G H

L M N O P Q R

V W Y

Meaning respect or obey. (the law, a decision, a rule) explain, give a reason

Example If you want to stay at this school, you must abide by the rules. I hope you can account for the money you spent!

make sense, seem reasonable Her story just doesn't add up.

recommend not doing The doctor advised him against carrying heavy something loads. have the same opinion as I agree with you. I think she deserves the award agree with somebody else. too. point something in the direction aim at of The policeman aimed his gun at the hijacker. a target take into consideration, allow for You'd better leave early to allow for traffic jams. include in a calculation answer reply rudely Don't answer back your mother! back 1) plead or make an earnest 1) The organizers appealed to the crowd to stay appeal to request calm. 2) be attractive or interesting 2) A trekking holiday doesn't appeal to me.

apply for avail (oneself) of

make a formal request for something (job, permit, loan etc.) take advantage of something (an opportunity)

He applied for the job he saw advertised in the newspaper. When the company is privatized, you should avail yourself of the opportunity and buy some shares.

B back away

move backwards, in fear or dislike

When he saw the dog, he backed away.

back down withdraw, concede defeat

back up

bail out

bank on beef up black out block off

Local authorities backed down on their plans to demolish the building. 1) give support or 1) If I tell the boss we've got too much work, will encouragement you back me up? 2) make a copy of (file, program, 2) It is recommended to back up all files in a etc.) secure location. 1) pay money to secure 1) When he was arrested, his family refused to someone's release bail him out. 2) rescue from financial 2) The government bailed out the bank. difficulties base your hopes on Don't forget the date. I'm banking on your help. someone/something improve, make more He beefed up his presentation with diagrams substantial and statistics. faint, lose consciousness Separate using a barrier. When he fell off the horse he blacked out.

blow up

The area was blocked off during the demonstration. 1) The terrorists said the bomb would blow up at 1) explode; 9 o'clock. 2) be destroyed by an explosion 2) The car blew up but luckily there was nobody in it. The problem boils down to a lack of money. Just give my a few minutes to boot up the computer. A few horses broke away from the paddock.

boil down be summarized as to start a computer by loading an boot up operating system or program. break escape from captivity away break down

1) John's car broke down so he had to take the 1) go out of order, cease to bus. function 2) The parents broke down when they heard 2) lose control of one's emotions the bad news. Burglars broke into the house around midnight.

break into enter by force

break out break out of break up bring up brush up on

start suddenly escape from a place by force come to an end (marriage, relationship) raise (a child)

Rioting broke out as a result of the strike. Three prisoners broke out of jail. After her marriage broke up, Emma went to live in London. She stopped working in order to bring up her children. Mary had to brush up on her Spanish before going to South America. Pedro bumped into his English teacher at the supermarket. 1) The fuse has burnt out. 2) Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down. It's rude to butt in on a conversation like that!

improve, refresh one's knowledge of something meet by accident or bump into unexpectedly 1) stop (something) working burn out 2) become exhausted from over-working butt in (on interrupt impolitely sthg)

C call back call off call on/upon sby calm down carry on carry out

return a phone call cancel formally invite or request become more relaxed, less angry or upset continue 1) do something as specified (a plan, an order, a threat) 2) perform or conduct (test, experiment)

I'll call you back as soon as possible. The meeting was called off because of the strike. I now call upon the President to address the assembly. He was angry at first but he eventually calmed down. He carried on gardening in spite of the rain. 1) The plan was carried out to perfection. 2) Tests are carried out to determine the efficiency of a new drug. As regards holidays, can you carry over any days from one year to the next? For security reasons you have to check in two hours before your flight. 1) Is Mr. Blair still at the hotel? No, he checked out this morning. 2) I don't know if the address is still valid. I'll check it out.

carry over postpone until later check in register at a hotel or airport

1) pay one's bill and leave (a check out hotel) 2) investigate

clam up clamp down on close down come across come forward come up against conk out count on cross out cut down on cut out

refuse to speak act strictly to prevent something stop operating (company, restaurant, cinema). 1) find by chance 2) appear, seem, make an impression present oneself be faced with or opposed by 1) stop working 2) stop or fall asleep (from exhaustion) rely or depend on (for help) remove by drawing a line through reduce in number or size 1) remove using scissors 2) stop doing something

When the teacher arrived she clammed up. The government has decided to clamp down on smoking in public places. When the factory closed down, the employees lost their jobs. 1) Julie came across some photographs of her grandparents in the attic. 2) The candidate came across as a dynamic person during the interview. The police have asked any witnesses to come forward. The project came up against a lot of criticism. 1) The car conked out on the motorway. 2) He was so exhausted, he conked out in front of the TV. I'm counting on the taxi driver to find the theatre. In some exercises, you are asked to cross out the incorrect word. The doctor told him to cut down on cigarettes. 1) She cut out a picture in a magazine. 2) I'm going to cut out eating between meals.

D deal with

handle, take care of (problem, The manager is good at dealing with difficult situation) customers. When the applause died down, she started to die down calm down, become less strong sing. The shops are closed so we'll have to do do without manage without without sugar. We expected a short speech but it dragged on drag on last longer than expected and on! write (contract, agreement, An agreement was drawn up and signed by the draw up document) two parties. 1) Do people dress up to go to the opera in your 1) wear elegant clothes dress up country? 2) disguise oneself 2) Children love to dress up at Halloween. visit, usually on the way I sometimes drop in to see my grandparents on drop in somewhere my way home from school.

drop off drop out

1) deliver someone or something 2) fall asleep leave school without finishing

1) I'll drop you off at the bus stop if you like. 2) Granddad often drops off in front of the TV. She decided to go to art school then dropped out after the first term.

E ease off end in end up even out

reduce, become less severe or After Christmas the workload generally eases slow down off. (pain, traffic, work) finish in a certain way; result in Their marriage ended in divorce. finally reach a state, place or action 1) eliminate differences of opinion. 2) become level or regular If he continues his misconduct he'll end up in prison. 1) After a long discussion they managed to even out their differences. 2) The road was evened out to make it safer.

fall through figure out fill out find out focus on figure out

fail; doesn't happen understand, find the answer complete (a form/an application) discover or obtain information concentrate on something understand; find a solution

Our planned boat trip fell through because of the storm. I'm trying to figure out how to assemble the bookshelves. Please fill out the enclosed form and return it as soon as possible. I'm going to call the cinema to find out what time the film starts. The advertising campaign will focus on the quality of the product. We'll have to figure out a way to deliver the goods faster.

get along be on good terms; work well (with) with get at get away get by get in imply escape manage to cope or to survive enter

I get along (well) with my mother-in-law. What exactly are you trying to get at? The robbers got away in a black car. It's difficult to get by on a low salary. How did the burglar get in?

get into (+noun) get off get on

enter 1) leave (bus, train, plane) 2) remove board (bus, train, plane)

How did the burglar get into the house? 1) You should get off the bus at Trafalgar Square. 2) She can't get the stain off her sweater. You can pay when you get on the bus.

get on with continue to do; make progress Be quiet and get on with your homework. (something) get on (well) with have a good relationship with I get on very well with my colleagues. (somebody) get out get out of (+noun) get out of get over get rid of get together get up give up leave leave avoid doing something recover from (illness, disappointment) eliminate meet each other rise, leave bed stop doing something How did he get out? How did he get out of the house? Some husbands manage to get out of doing any housework. My grandmother had pneumonia but she got over it. It's difficult to get rid of old habits. Let's get together for lunch on day. I usually get up at 7 o'clock. Sarah gave up smoking 5 years ago. Pete went through a lot of pain after the accident. He grew up in a small village in the mountains.

go through experience grow up spend one's childhood; develop; become an adult

H hand in hand out hang out hang up hit at

All application forms must be handed in before the end of the month. Samples will be handed out at the end of the distribute demonstration. spend time in a particular place, Where does he hang out these days? or with a group of friends Who does he hang out with? submit (report, homework) end a phone conversation aim a blow at "Don't hang up. I haven't finished yet." He hit at the wasp with the newspaper.

hit back hit on/upon hold on hurry up

retaliate; reply to an attack find unexpectedly or by inspiration -wait -grip tightly be quick, act speedily

When he was attacked by the others, the boy hit back. She hit upon an idea for her new collection. - 'Hold on please. I'll put you through to Mr. Brown." - She held on to the railing as she crossed the bridge. Hurry up! We'll miss the bus.

I iron out

resolve by discussion, eliminate The meeting tomorrow will be an opportunity to differences iron out difficulties.

J join in join up

participate

She was too shy to join in the game.

jot down

- John was in the Army and Tom joined up as -engage in, become a member soon as he left school. of - The two groups of tourists joined up at the - meet and unite with hotel. I jotted down the address while watching the take quick notes programme on TV.

K keep on keep up with kick off

continue doing something stay at the same level as someone or something begin, start

It told him to be quiet but he kept on making noise. Bill walks so fast it's difficult to keep up with him. The football match kicked off at 3 o'clock.

L leave out let down look after

omit, not mention disappoint take care of

The child's name was left out of the report. You promised to come to the party, so don't let me down! A babysitter looks after the children when they go out. It's time to forget the past and look ahead. He tends to look down on anyone who is not successful. 7

look ahead think of the future look down consider as inferior on

look on look for

be a spectator at an event try to find something

Billy didn't take part in the fight. He just looked on. Jane went to the shops to look for a pair of shoes. I look forward to seeing you soon. He was a wonderful teacher and many students looked up to him.

look await or anticipate with forward to pleasure look up to admire

make fun of

The old lady dresses so strangely that the kids make fun of her. Some employees make up excuses when they make up invent (excuse, story) arrive late for work. mistake one thing or person for I don't know my neighbours' names yet. I keep mix up another mixing them up. You've bought a new house? When are you move in arrive in a new home or office moving in?. leave your home/office for My neighbour is leaving. He's moving out next move out another one. Saturday. laugh at/ make jokes about

N nod off

fall asleep

note down write something

My grandfather often nods off in front of the television. I'll call the station and note down the departure times.

O opt out own up

leave a system or decide not to I enjoy tennis but I'm so busy I had to opt out of participate the tournament. The boy owned up. He said he kicked the ball admit or confess something through the window.

P pass away die pass out pay back put off put on faint reimburse postpone, arrange a later date turn on, switch on

The old lady passed away peacefully. She passed out when she heard the bad news. I'll lend you 20 provided you pay me back before the end of the week. The meeting was put off because of the strike. Could you put on the light please?

put out put up pick up point out

extinguish

It took a long time to put out the fire.

accommodate, give somebody We can put you up if you'd like to come for a a bed week-end. collect somebody indicate/direct attention to something I'll pick you up at the station when you arrive. She pointed out the mistake.

R rely on rule out run away run into

count on, depend on, trust eliminate escape from a place or suddenly leave meet by accident or unexpectedly (also: bump into)

Don't worry. You can rely on me. I can keep a secret. The police ruled out political motives. He ran away from home at the age of fourteen. Sophie ran into Maria at the shopping centre. What a nuisance! We've run out of coffee.

run out of have no more of something.

S set off set up shop around show off show up

start a journey; start a business compare prices brag or want to be admired appear/arrive

Early Saturday morning we set off for the ski slopes . She set up her own company 10 years ago. It's always wise to shop around before buying anything. There's David showing off in his new sports car! We expected David to come but he didn't show up. Oh shut up, you idiot! Please come in and sit down. The pupils stood up when the headmaster arrived. It's important to stick up for one's principles.

shut up (impolite) be silent, stop talking sit down stand up stick up for take a seat rise from a sitting position defend

T take after take care of take off take on take out tell off

resemble, in appearance or character look after leave the ground hire or engage staff remove; extract reprimand/criticize severely

Jamie really takes after his dad. I'll take care of your plants while you're away. The plane took off at 6 a.m. Business is good so the company is taking on extra staff. She took out a pen to note the address. The teacher told her off for not doing her homework. I'll have to think over the proposal before I decide.

think over consider try on

wear something to see if it suits I'm not sure about the size. Can I try it on? or fits I couldn't turn down an offer like that!

turn down refuse

U use up

finish a product (so that there's The kids have used up all the toothpaste. none left)

V vouch for

express confidence in, or guarantee something

You can give the keys to Andy. I can vouch for him.

W watch out be careful wear out work out wipe off 1) become unusable 2) become very tired 1) do physical exercise 2) find a solution or calculate something clean (board, table).

Watch out! There's a car coming. 1) Julie wore out her shoes visiting the city. 2) At the end of the day Julie was worn out. 1) I work out twice a week at the gym club. 2) It's expensive but I haven't worked out the exact cost yet. The teacher asked Lee to wipe off the board.

phrasal verb quiz

phrasal verb crossword

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